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Letters, Dec. 24

Letters, Dec. 24

How can asking for peace be wrong?

I was saddened to read the letter to the editor by Bill Brookhart blasting the folks who brave the cold, wet weather to attend the peace vigil near Fred Meyer each Friday afternoon in Sandy. It is especially ironic since Christmas time is traditionally a time to pray for peace on Earth.

SUSANA JENKINS

Sandy

No more Rupert Murdoch!

For those of us who don't want a few big companies deciding what we see, hear and read in the news, it's a bad day. The Bush-appointed FCC just voted to loosen media ownership rules so media titans like Rupert Murdoch can swallow up more local news outlets. They did this despite a huge public outcry; when the FCC asked for public comments, 99 percent opposed media consolidation!

The last thing our democracy needs is fewer independent media voices and more news outlets like FOX. Congress has the power to reverse this rule change, and I just signed this petition asking Congress to do that. This issue is very important. Can you join me? Go to http://civ.moveon.org/mediaconsolidation/?r_by=-1214254-YFeTmu and rc=paste

HEATHER MICHET

Sandy

Writer's smear of war protesters is puzzling

I was puzzled by Bill Brookhart's smear against the Sandy citizens who stand on Highway 26 every Friday evening protesting the Iraq war.

I have never participated in one of these events, but I have to admire the dedication of these folks. They face some of Mr. Brookhart's fellow travelers who seem to be offended that freedom of speech is dictated by the U.S. Constitution, passing with middle fingers erect and spewing obscenities. Guess that's 'free speech' too, huh?

Now I know that Mr. Brookhart is a regular at the city Planning Commission, the City Council and the school district meetings. Don't know why he feels that his words are worth consideration while he is 'nauseated' by his fellow citizens, calling them a 'mob.'

How Mr. Brookhart 'knows' that the protesters want to 'kill children by the millions' or 'let Islamic terrorists have tomorrow' is anybody's guess. In Britain he'd be liable for a slander suit in civil court for these wild allegations.

Here's one fact for Mr. Brookhart: According to all of the polling data, around 60 percent of the U.S. population wants us out of Iraq no later than the end of next year. Check it out at www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm. I didn't poll Sandy, but then neither did he. He just knows.

PAT RYAN

Sandy

Thief dampened our Christmas spirit

On Sunday night, Dec. 16, someone stole two 10-foot metal pasture gates (brand new) from our property on Coalman Road. These gates, chained and locked together, were on a fence containing a $3,000 horse. The horse could have gotten out and been hit on the road by a car or a truck causing a disaster.

The horse's owner, 4-year-old Emily, said with some conviction, 'My princess horse Shawna would never leave me.' Still, she was distraught that someone would put her beloved horse at such risk. Needless to say, Christmas at our house will be a little bit subdued this year.